That beautiful picture and those wonderful words reminded me of something I got years ago in an email and thought, this is just too good to throw into the recycle bin. Her it is. If this doesn't bring tears to your eyes you are devoid of emotion. It's called "Running in the Rain"
She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years
old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence.
It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the tops of rain
gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the Earth it had no time to flow down the
spout. Drains in the nearby parking lot were filled to capacity and some
were blocked so that huge puddles laced around parked cars.
We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal-Mart.
We waited, some patiently, others irritated... because nature messed up
their hurried day.
I am always mesmerized by rain fall. I get lost in the sound and sight of
the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running,
splashing so carefree as a child come pouring in as a welcome reprieve from
the worries of my day.
Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in.
"Mom, let's run through the rain," she said. "What?" Mom asked. "Let's run
through the rain!" she repeated. "No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down
a bit." Mom replied.
This young child waited about another minute and repeated, "Mom, let's run
through the rain." "We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said. "No, we won't, Mom"
"That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at
her Mom's arm.
"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get
wet?" "Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer,
you said, 'If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything!"
The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but
the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few
minutes.
Her Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some
would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what
was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A
time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.
"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If God let's
us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing,"
Then off they ran.
We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and
yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads,
just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed
and laughed like children all the way to their cars.
I want to believe that somewhere down the road in life, Mom will find herself
reflecting back on moments they spent together, captured like pictures in the
scrapbook of her cherished memories. Maybe when she watches proudly as her
daughter graduates. Or as her Daddy walks her down the aisle on her wedding
day. She will laugh again. Her heart will beat a little faster. Her smile
will tell the world they love each other.
But only they will share that precious moment, when they ran through the rain
believing that God would get them through.
And Yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.
Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can
take away your money, they can take away your health. But no one can ever
take away your precious memories. So, don't forget to make time and take the
opportunities... To make memories every day!
* I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our
wings have trouble remembering how to fly.*
I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN !
Kathy's Song: click here to read the entire thread »